University of Limerick Alumni Spotlight: Ciarán Darcy

Sa mhír is déanaí den tsraith 'Alumni Spotlight' de chuid Ollscoil Luimnigh, labhraímid le Ciarán Darcy. 

In the latest instalment of the Alumni Spotlight Series we speak to Ciarán Darcy.  

1. Abair linn píosa beag fút féin? 

Ciarán Darcy is ainm dom agus is as Beanntraí, Iarthar Chorcaí mé. Áit iontach chun fás aníos ach is bhfad ó aon chathair é, ach déanann sé suas dó nadur agus an pobail.,Bhí suim agam i spóirt, ceol agus aisteoireacht nuair a bhí me óg. Táim ag obair i dtionscal an cheoil faoi láthair.   

1. Tell us a bit about yourself? 

My name is Ciarán Darcy and I am from Bantry, West Cork. An amazing place to grow up but very far from any city, but it makes up for it with nature and community. I had an interest in sports, music and acting when I was young. I currently work in the music industry.  

2. Cad é an cúrsa léinn a ndearna tú staidéar air, agus cén bhliain/bhlianta ar bhain tú an cúrsa sin amach? 

Rinne mé staidéar ar an nGaeilge agus ar na Meáin Nua le Béarla mar ábhar breise. Bhain mé céim amach i 2014, mar sin deich mbliana ó shin i mbliana!    

2. What course/s did you study, and what year/s did you graduate? 

I studied Irish and New Media with English as an extra subject. I graduated in 2014, so ten years ago this year!    

3. Cén fáth gur roghnaigh tú dul le cúrsa in Ollscoil Luimnigh? 

Bhí UL thar a bheith tarraingteach don suíomh, an pobal ar an gcampas, an campas é féin (an ceann is fearr in Éirinn). Roghnaigh mé UL mar bhí suim agaim forbairt mé fein mar dhuine ag an am sin agus freisin an tarraingt a bhí orm a bheith in áit nua lasmuigh de Chorcaigh.    

3. Why did you choose to study at University of Limerick? 

UL was hugely appealing for the location, the community on campus, the campus itself (which is the best in Ireland). I chose UL because it had what I needed to develop as a person at that time and also the appeal of being in a new place outside Cork.    

4. Bhí deis agat foghlaim ó fhoireann acadúil aitheanta agus tarraingt ar áiseanna den chéad scoth in Ollscoil Luimnigh. Ar mhiste leat cur síos a dhéanamh ar an taithí sin? 

Bhí sé thar a bheith dearfach, an oiread sin léachtóirí an-suimiúil faoina gcuid mac léinn agus sampla de sin is ea na léachtóirí ag déanamh spáis dom staidéar a dhéanamh ina rang Béarla mar ábhar breise a chiallaigh an domhan dom.    

4. As a University of Limerick student, you had the opportunity to learn from some of the top academic talent, in state-of-the-art facilities. What was your experience like? 

It was really positive, so many lecturers really care about their students and an example of that was lecturers making space for me to study in their English class as an extra subject which meant the world to me.    

5. Cén chomhairle a thabharfá do chairde léinn atá ag machnamh ar staidéar a dhéanamh in Ollscoil Luimnigh? 

Bí i do chumainn agus i gclubanna, bain triail as iad go léir agus ansin dírigh ar na cúpla is maith leat. Tóg do chuid ama, ná bí buartha faoi tú féin a chur i gcomparáid le daoine eile, ná bíodh faitíos ort ceisteanna a chur agus meas a bheith agat ar na háiseanna spóirt agus ar an leabharlann agus iad agat. Aimsigh daoine maithe.    

5. What advice would you offer to students considering studying at University of Limerick? 

Join societies and clubs, try them all and then focus on the few you like. Take your time, don't worry about comparing yourself to others,don't be scared to ask questions and appreciate the sports facilities and library while you have them. Find good people.    

6. Cén chomhairle a thabharfá do chairde léinn atá ag machnamh ar dhul le do léinn féin? 

Is féidir le Gaeilge, Béarla agus na Meáin Nua tú a thabhairt áit ar bith ar mhaith leat dul i dtírdhreach na cruthaitheachta agus na meán. Ag labhairt do theanga dhúchais freisin is rud é a fhanfaidh leat go deo agus is féidir leis na doirse a oscailt.  

6. What advice would you offer to students considering studying your course? 

Irish, English and New Media can take you anywhere you want to go in the creative and media landscape. Also speaking your native language is something that will stay with you forever and can open doors.  

7. Tá cáil ar Ollscoil Luimnigh mar ‘Home of Firsts’ – an dtagann tú leis sin? 

Tháinig mo chéad uair i mo chónaí as baile in Ollscoil Luimnigh, bhí mo chéad uair ag aisteoireacht in UL, bhí mo chéad rolla ceart filléad sicín in UL agus an chéad uair a mhothaigh mé fíor. bhí neamhspleáchas in UL agus mar sin mothaím fíor bhuíoch as sin.  Chomh maith leis sin, bhí an chéad uair a bhuail mé le cuid de mo chairde fíor-mhaithe in Ollscoil Luimnigh!    

7. UL is known as the ‘Home of Firsts’ – are there any important ‘firsts’ that you experienced here, that you would like to share? 

My first time living away from home came in UL, my first time acting was in UL, my first  proper chicken fillet roll was in UL and the first time I felt true independence was in UL so I feel really grateful for that.  Also, the first time I met some of my really good friends was in UL!    

8. An bhfuil aon suíomh nó ionad ar leith ar an gcampas atá gar dod’ chroí? 

Na cúirteanna cispheile sa Halla Spóirt (an chuid is fearr), Ba spás iontach é an Leabharlann, shéid The Living Bridge m'intinn i gcónaí! An lios ar ndóigh, ach tá áilleacht nádúrtha ghinearálta an champais áit an-speisialta i mo chuimhne!    

8. Are there any campus locations that hold special significance to you? 

The basketball courts in the Sports Hall (the best), the Library was such a great space, The Living Bridge always blew my mind! The courtyard of course but the general natural beauty of the campus holds a really special spot in my memory!    

9. Conas mar a d’ullmhaigh do chúrsa agus do chuid taithí ginearálta in Ollscoil Luimnigh tú don suíomh oibre? 

D'fhoghlaim mé a lan ó UL! Conas muinín a chur orm féin agus ar mo ghut, conas mo chuid ama a sceidealú, conas a bheith cuntasach, conas rudaí nua a thriail! D'fhoghlaim mé an oiread sin!    

9. How did your course/s and your overall UL experience prepare you for entering the workplace upon graduating? 

I learned so much from UL! How to trust myself and my gut, how to schedule my time, how to be accountable, how to try new things! I learned so much!    

10. An bhfuil do chumas sa Ghaeilge ina bhuntáiste i do shaol gairmiúil? 

Gan dabht! Chabhraigh sé liom mo chéad intéirneacht a fháil ag Conradh na Gaeilge agus chomh maith leis sin is buntáiste é i ngach áit ar oibrigh mé, ar bhealaí gan choinne!    

10. Has your career benefited from being a Gaeilgeoir? 

Without doubt! It helped me get my first internship at Conradh Na Gaeilge and also it’s something that has been a bonus in every place I have worked, in unexpected ways!   

11. Cén fáth go raibh sé tábhachtach duit deis a bheith agat an Ghaeilge a labhairt agus a staidéar? 

Táim an-bhródúil as a bheith in ann dhá theanga a labhairt, táim an-bhródúil as Gaeilge a labhairt. Tá tionchar ollmhór cultúrtha ag an teanga agus sílim go bhfuil sé fíorthábhachtach staidéar a dhéanamh air agus í a labhairt, tá sé just cool freisin.    

11. Why was it important to you to speak and study Irish? 

I’m really proud to be able to speak two languages, I’m really proud to speak Irish. The language is having a massive cultural impact and I think it’s really important to study and speak it to continue that, it’s also just cool.     

12. Ar mhiste leat do stádas reatha gairmiúil a léiriú dúinn? 

Faoi láthair táim ag obair le Warner Music Group, ceann de na lipéid is mó ar domhan. Tá mo ról ag Warner Music Ireland sa lucht féachana a dhíríonn ar na meáin shóisialta. Tá neart gníomhartha iontacha domhanda ag Warner. Roimhe sin d’oibrigh mé ag Wilson Hartnell Public Relations in iompar agus sonraí meáin shóisialta, le cliaint mar Guinness.    

12. Could you update us on where you are now in your career? 

I currently work for Warner Music Group, one of the biggest labels in the world. My role at Warner Music Ireland is in audience which focuses on social media. Warner is home to a host of amazing global acts. Before that I worked at Wilson Hartnell Public Relations in social media behaviour and data, with clients like Guinness.